The policeman, who until he was suspended had a management position in the Eastern police district, was accused of abusing his position to obtain sexual intercourse with a subordinate. In three cases, he got a female police officer to masturbate him, the verdict states. In court also met eight women who told about similar experiences with the policeman. Their cases, however, were obsolete or relegated to the position of evidence. He is now sentenced to seven months in prison, and must pay 80,000 kroner in compensation to the aggrieved party in the case. Terje Nybøe, Special Unit chief and prosecutor in the case, also asked that the man be sentenced to the position of police officer in the Eastern police district. Will appeal the verdict However, the court believed that the man was not fit to hold a leadership position, but that he could continue to work in the police. “The accused has not abused his police position to obtain sexual intercourse with women other than police officers. The court assumes that the fact that the accused is now being punished will lead to him approaching female colleagues in a different way in the future “, it is stated in the judgment. Terje Nybøe was the prosecutor in the case, and is head of the Bureau of Investigation. Photo: Julia Thommessen / news – I am pleased that the court has agreed with our assessment of evidence, and that they have found that this was an abuse of position to achieve sexual intercourse, says Nybøe about the verdict. The special unit has not decided whether there are grounds for appealing the parts of the judgment where they were not fully upheld. The verdict is not final. The man’s defense counsel, Gry Berger, states that the accused is not satisfied with the verdict, and wants to appeal. Did not dare to notify Assistance lawyer Eva Frivold tells news that her client is happy to have been believed by the court. Assistance lawyer Eva Frivold Photo: Julia Thommessen / news – The case has been a very big burden. She hopes the finish line has now been set, says Frivold. All the women who claim the policeman has harassed or exposed themselves to them, explained themselves in court. The man himself has other versions of all the events. Several of the women also talk about a jargon and culture in the police that makes it difficult to be a woman. However, this was not the subject of the judgment. – I became more observant and more afraid of what I did, where I was, what I turned my back on and who I was with. It was completely out of the question to lie down on the sofa and take a rest on the night shift. Because then I did not know what could happen. That was my experience of working there, a woman explained in court. The women have in common that at various times in the last 12 years they have worked in the Eastern police district together with the accused man, or have met him with colleagues. – I knew I could not say anything. It was so clearly conveyed that women were only admitted because it was politically correct, one of them explained in court. One of the women was a police student in practice when the accused made her touch his penis. – I did not understand then, how vulnerable position I was in as a student, but I understand it today. You feel a little exploited, she explained in the district court. Do you have any tips in this case? Feel free to send me an e-mail, or contact me by phone / Signal: 41462909 Accused: – I must get help The police chief himself has a different opinion of several of the incidents described in court. He explained that several of the women have had a flirtatious tone with him. Due to a troubled upbringing, he found it difficult to say no when someone showed interest and recognized him. – I’m a good cop. But I need help. To love myself and see my worth, he said in court. The verdict states that the accused has «a sexual approach to women, and especially colleagues, out of the ordinary. It is a question of whether the accused actually believed that these women had a desire for such behavior on his part. Chief of Police in the Eastern Police District, Ida Melboe Øystese, says the police district will take a position on the police chief’s employment relationship when the verdict becomes final. He is currently suspended. – I myself have been in the police for over 25 years. I can relate to parts of the stories that emerge. Especially this with the fact that when there is sexual jargon, it is difficult to say no, because you have such a great desire to fit in, Øystese says to news. Wants to end sexual jargon She says the police have had a strong focus on whistleblowing and sexual harassment in the last two years. Nevertheless, she believes that the police have a way to go, and that change takes too long. – The women who testify tell about incidents 12 years back in time. How can this supposedly have been going on for so long without anyone notifying? – That’s a good question. And I think it’s good we get it on the table. Because here our organization has failed, says Øystese. Chief of Police Ida Melboe Øystese in the Eastern Police District. Photo: The police The chief of police encourages employees in the police who have experienced harassment to report it. She believes the police district, especially in recent times, has become better at handling alerts. – It is important that you dare to speak out, and that leaders are able to receive in a good way. I do not want there to be any doubt that I, as top manager, really want people to speak out, says Øystese. The case came up after an employee survey about unwanted sexual attention in the police, which was published in 2020. In the wake of this, the Eastern police district has had a new employee survey, where they asked about sexual harassment. 13 employees stated that they had been harassed in the last 12 months of the survey. At the same time, Øystese admits that these employees have not given notice. – What is the reason why they have not told about it or given notice, it is difficult for me to speculate. But we must take note that 13 have responded in that survey, and there are not many who have submitted a notice of it, she says.
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